australia

I've reached my destination for now after travelling north from Sawtell in NSW. I'm in Budgee! It's located about 25 minutes drive from Toowoomba, Queensland and I'm staying with my best buddies, Alanna and John. They bought 60 acres of farmland complete with a little old farmhouse earlier this year and have been slowly preparing it for a permanent home. It's just beautiful. Black soil, open cultivated country with views across the plains. They've also had a fair bit of rain in recent weeks that has greened up the place.

I arrived on Oct 25, just in time for the full moon and the next morning I was able to see both the sunrise and the moonset.

I met the beautiful Bethel in Rishikesh, India in March last year at a yoga teacher training course. We've been friends ever since. She came to Australia in February and has been working in Sydney and seeing a bit of the city and surrounds. When the road trip idea was hatched, we planned to travel and camp up the east coast and finally arrive in Queensland. Bethel was bitten by the Byron Bay bug and I lost her. She's working and meeting new friends and having a new adventure while I continue mine.

Graduation day, Rishikesh, India

Bethel at Holi Festival, Rishikesh, India

We did have a few days exploring the coast from Sawtell to Byron and staying in some fabulous places. It's a treat to show off our gorgeous country and to see it through new eyes. The first few days we spent exploring the local area in and around Sawtell and Coffs Harbour. A day trip to Bellingen and Dorrigo wasn't spoiled by the flogging down rain but quite the contrary, it enhanced the beauty.

I've been back in the area for a month. The mid-north coast is a sparkly gem of NSW and although the weather has been unseasonally bleak and cold, it's still great to be here. I've hooked up with old friends, met new ones and walked the pristine white sands of the coastline.

Housesitting has given me the opportunity to live in some beautiful places over the past couple of years and I've been privileged to have looked after some lovely homes and lots of furry friends.